Ill. officer suspended after jail escape

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- A St. Clair County correctional officer has been suspended for 30 days without pay after a detainee escape that the sheriff has called an "embarrassment."

St. Clair County Sheriff Mearl Justus did not identify the officer, but said the escape happened because the employee did not follow procedures and was complacent. Justus says the system has failed and he hopes to fix any problems.

Justus plans to do that by asking county officials for a fingerprinting system that could cost as much as $18,000. Meanwhile, the sheriff says under new procedures two people, including a supervisor, will have to approve people who sign out of the facility.